The Eugene Emeralds kicked off the second half of the season Tuesday night by losing to the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes 5-1 at PK Park.
Each team wasted no time in putting runners on base in the first inning. The Volcanoes had the bases loaded with two outs, both of which were strikeouts, for Ryan Howard who hit a high fly ball to left fielder Christopher Pieters. He was able to make the catch to end the inning despite being blinded by the sun.
In the bottom of the first, Zack Short drew a walk for the Emeralds, followed by a single by Pieters. On Pieter’s single, Short was able to advance to third when Volcanoes starting pitcher Mac Marshall attempted to throw him out at second, but his throw sailed into the outfield. Following a walk by Wladimir Galindo to load the bases, Tyler Payne grounded into a double play to end the inning.
Both pitchers settled into the game with Marshall and Eugene starter Erling Moreno putting together quality starts. For Marshall, who came into the game with an 0-3 record, this was his best outing of the season. Marshall held the Emeralds to one hit and striuck out five batters in five innings of work as he picked up his first win of the season.
Moreno, the no. 16 ranked international prospect by Baseball America in 2013, made his 2016 Emeralds debut. He struck out seven and held the Volcanoes in check through five innings, giving up five hits but not allowing a run in the no-decision.
“Moreno did an outstanding job,” Emeralds Manager Jesus Feliciano said. “It didn’t happen tonight so we just got to come back tomorrow night and get ready to play again.”
Relief pitcher Dakota Mekkes entered the game for Eugene and surrendered a pair of runs to the Volcanoes. Gio Brusa led the inning off with a base hit, followed by a walk by Ryan Kirby. Howard laid down a successful bunt attempt to advance the runners to second and third. A wild pitch by Mekkes allowed Brusa to come home and break the scoreless tie in the game. In the same at-bat, Kevin Rivera hit a sacrifice fly to left field to bring in Kirby, adding another run to the lead. Mekkes took the loss for the game.
Hengerber Medina was brought in to start the bottom of the sixth to help protect the 2-0 lead for the Volcanoes.
The Emeralds were able to get one back in the bottom of the seventh on a hard hit ball by Jose Paniagua to third baseman Manuel Geraldo, who had a hard time bringing it in. That allowed Paniagua to get to second, and then advance to third on a wild pitch. He then scored on a single by Trent Giambrone. With runners on first and second with one out, a double play ended the Emeralds’ chances to tie the game in the seventh.
Chad Hockin began the top of the eighth inning for the Emeralds, trying to keep the deficit at one. After a leadoff double by Brusa, Kirby and Howard recorded outs. Rivera followed with a line drive to third baseman Galindo, but his throw to first was off the mark and Brusa scored from third to give the Volcanoes a 3-1 lead.
In the top of the ninth Bryan Reynolds made sure the lead would stay intact with a one-out double off of Mark Malave to bring in Geraldo from first base. Reynolds advanced to third on a wild pitch and came home on a sacrifice fly to right field, giving the Volcanoes a 5-1 lead for the final score.
The Emeralds (0-1, 28-10) will look to bounce back tomorrow at 7:05 pm in game two of the three game series at PK Park.
Follow Zak Laster on Twitter: @zlast3445